EU Internet proposals to protect society
20.05.2006, 10:15
EU proposals to regulate content on the Internet are aimed at protecting society not undermining free speech, European Union Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said on Thursday.
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Reding spoke at a news conference after a group of European Union culture ministers met to discuss extending rules restricting television content to cover telephones and the Internet as well as over-the-air broadcasts.
She said the proposed regulations reflected "basic societal values" -- the protection of young children and restrictions on incitement to hatred.
EU regulation attacked as censorship
03.05.2006, 19:27
EU commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding was forced to defend herself against accusations of censorship during a press conference in Brussels yesterday, where a meeting of European Union culture ministers had given broad agreement to the commission proposal, the Audio-Visual Media Services Without Frontiers Directive.
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The proposals had "nothing to do with free speech", she said. The aim was to protect children and prevent the incitement of hatred, reported Reuters news agency.
Some content "goes too far", she said, and ministers had agreed that such broadcasts threaten to "destroy our society". The new rules were about protecting "basic societal values".
Turkey says to sign customs protocol with EU, but not to recognize Cyprus
14.04.2005, 08:59
Turkey will sign and implement a protocol extending its customs union with all 25 EU members including Cyprus, but will not recognize the Greek Cypriot-ruled Republic of Cyprus, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported Wednesday, citing a Turkish official.
Turkey will implement the protocol after its signature in order to avoid "problems with the EU" during accession negotiations set to open on Oct. 3 this year, Engin Solakoglou, first secretary of Turkey's Permanent Mission to the EU was quoted as saying.
Solakoglou announced that the Turkish government will at the time of signing the protocol issue a declaration to the EU on non- recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.